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Administration

Kate Bracher, Executive Director and Founding Principal

 

 

Kate Bracher Executive Director and Founding Principal
Kate Bracher is proud to be the Executive Director for AMS Arkansas following a 
decade of service to students and families in Texas as a teacher, campus leader, and strategist for a statewide initiative. Before joining the AMS team, she was the Manager of Effective District Systems at the Texas Education Agency (TEA), where she supported the design and launch of a new statewide program supporting superintendents and their teams in systems-oriented strategic planning through research-based practices. 
Prior to this role, Kate served as the assistant principal and later principal of Uplift 
Williams Middle School in Dallas, TX, where she led the school to earn an “A” rating from TEA in 2019 and rank in the top 20 middle schools in Dallas County for academic excellence. Her leadership yielded high staff retention and campus culture ratings, strong parent and community satisfaction, and unprecedented student growth. As a proud Teach for America alumna, Kate taught middle school English in Dallas I.S.D. and Uplift Education prior to her years as a school leader. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Southern Methodist University and will earn her Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University in the summer of 2024. Kate believes every child deserves the best educational experience that empowers them with choice and opportunity. As a leader, she is passionate about designing and sustaining a culture of high expectations and collective partnership between staff, students, families, and the broader community to make this vision a reality.
 

 

 

Michala Patterson, Elementary School AP

 

 

Michala Patterson, Elementary School AP
Michala Patterson is honored to assume the role of Elementary Assistant Principal at our school, bringing over eleven years of dedicated educational experience to our inaugural leadership team. Michala grew up watching the amazing educators in her family serve their communities and aspired to follow in their footsteps at an early age. Because of that inspiration, she went to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She graduated from Pensacola Christian College in 2013 and received her master’s degree in Public Administration in 2017 from Arkansas State University.
Michala’s educational journey began at Ambassador Baptist Academy where she 
served as a third and fourth grade teacher. It was there she learned the love of 
teaching scholars with dyslexia indicators, where she learned the skill of reaching 
scholars both academically and socio-emotionally and fostering success at each level of learning and developing. She moved to Arkansas Lighthouse Academies where she served in various roles from classroom teacher to district dyslexia coordinator and ended her tenure there serving in dual roles as district’s Dyslexia Coordinator and Academic Dean. Her love for literacy granted her the opportunity to become a RISE 3-6 trainer of teachers, helping to ensure that future generations develop a love for literacy. Michala believes that with strong healthy relationships, consistency, and hard work, each scholar can achieve an equitable education. She understands that through proper inspection of the expectations both scholar and school community can foster inquisitive scholars that positively impact the world. Michala's commitment extends beyond the school setting—she dedicates time to working with children diagnosed with Autism, bringing joy and sunshine to their lives and families. Beyond her professional commitments, Michala is a passionate sports enthusiast, closely following Lebron, the Cowboys, and the Arkansas Razorbacks. In her leisure time, Michala enjoys journaling, writing poetry, reading, and exploring the intricacies of the enneagram. Ultimately, with the goal of becoming an enneagram coach. With her diverse interests, strong educational background, and unwavering dedication, Michala Patterson is a valuable and dynamic addition to our educational community.
 

 

Chelsea Clark, Middle School AP

 

 

Chelsea Clark
Chelsea Clark is proud to join the AMS team in the role of Middle School Assistant Principal. Chelsea is a visionary educator with a passion for educational equity who has made an indelible mark on the landscape of American education in rural and urban schools. Beginning her journey with joining Teach For America in 2013 after graduating from Millsaps College with a B.A. in Public Administration, Chelsea dedicated her time to serving in one of the most critical areas of our nation: the Mississippi Delta. In this challenging environment, she honed her skills, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to her students' success and advocating tirelessly for resources despite any barriers placed in her way. During her five years in Mississippi she increased proficiency scores in United States History as well as led the initiative to bring dual enrollment and Advanced Placement courses to the school to help accelerate student success upon graduation.
 
Driven by a desire to effect systemic change, Chelsea embarked on a path towards leadership, leveraging her experience and expertise to navigate the complex educational landscape. Her journey led her to the helm of the Hillsborough County Public School District, the seventh largest school district in the nation. During her six years with HCPS she has proven herself to be a transformative leader, spearheading initiatives to foster innovation, inclusivity, and academic excellence. Chelsea had grown in the roles of reading teacher, peer counseling and wellness coordinator, writing coach and helped to bring the National Education Association model of community schools to secondary schools in the district. After one year with the district, she was selected to join a cohort of 10 educators in the Turnaround Leadership Pathways program where she acquired her Masters of Educational Leadership from the University of Tampa. Upon her graduation, she began her career as a secondary Assistant Principal leading the charge to significantly decrease suspensions amongst minority students and attacking behavior through the lens of restoration instead of punitive measures.
 
However, Chelsea's dedication to educational equity extends far beyond her professional achievements. Her formative years as a student at the historic Little Rock Central High School and young intern with the City of Little Rock ignited a lifelong commitment to challenging inequity and dismantling barriers to opportunity. These pivotal experiences continue to inform and inspire her work, driving her to advocate for every student's right to a high-quality education, regardless of their background or circumstance. Chelsea is extremely proud to return home and to continue the work of helping young Arkansans achieve their dreams and reach new heights.
 

 

 

 

Joanna Natera Veal, Front Office Manager

 

 

Joanna Natera Veal, Front Office Manager
Joanna Natera Veal, proudly serving as the Office Manager for AMS Little Rock. Her journey began when she relocated from Mexico to the United States at the age of 11. For over 17 years, she has called El Paso, Texas, her home, and it's there that her path to success truly took shape. Joanna's educational pursuit led her to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where she not only acquired knowledge but also embraced the university's spirit as a true "Miner at heart”. In her professional journey, Joanna's has accumulated over a decade of managerial experience, she achieved new goals when she assumed the role of district manager for a finance company, a position she held for more than five years. Notably, Joanna made history as the first woman to be promoted to the position of district manager within the El Paso district. However, Joanna's journey didn't end in Texas. She took her expertise to Arkansas over three years ago, transitioning into the field of education. Starting as an administrator, Joanna's talent and dedication were quickly acknowledged, leading to her promotion within just six months to the role of registrar. As a registrar, Joanna honed her skills and took on significant responsibilities. She managed all aspects of the registration process, overseeing record creation, final exam scheduling, and student enrollment verification for an impressive student body of over 600 students. Joanna also loves spending quality time with her husband and two sons, aged 8 and 6, engaging in activities like playing video games together. Joanna enjoys photography and the craft of macramé, which serve as her hobbies, allowing her to express her creativity.
 

 

 

A full summary of school personnel experience and resumes are available for public review upon request. Please contact the school directly.